Chain-connector



' T. W. OLSON AND A. IVERSON.

CHAIN CONNECTOR.'

APPLICATION FILED MAY Il, |921. 1,386,273. Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

, IVe/afa y abtozneg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAIN-CONNECTOR.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

Application led May 11, 1921. Serial No. 468,792.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS W. OLsoN and ANTON IvnRsoN, citizens of the United States, residing at Osage, in the county of Nlitchell and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Chain-Connector, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a simple, eiiicient and inexpensive means whereby chains of various sorts, and particularly chains whichV form part of an anti-skidding device, may be connected securely, it being possible to release and separate the chains readily, at the will of an operator.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

Within the scope of what is claimed, a mechanic may make changes in the precise structure depicted and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings z-F igure 1 is a side elevation showing the connector in closed position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the connector in open sition; Fig. 3 is a plan of the connector; igs. 4, 5, and 6 are sections taken, respectively, on the lines 4 4, 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 is a cross section taken through the latch member of the connector.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a body 1, in the form of a plate, having in one edge, a recess 2 defining profjections 20. The body 1 is supplied in its opposite edge with a notch 3 and with an L-shaped slot 4 including a transverse branch 5 and a longitudinal branch 6 termi- -nating in an enlargement 8, that portion of the body 1 which is disposed at the juncture of the branches 5 and 6 constituting a seat 7.

The connector includes, further, a latch 10 which is U-shaped in plan, the latch comprising a bend 11 and side arms 12. The body 1 of the connector extends between the side arms 12 of the latch and is united therewith by a pivot element 14. The side arms 12 are supplied with alined openings 15, registering with the notch 3 in the body 1. The arms 2 are provided with inwardly inclined resilient tongues 16. Adjacent to its bend 11, the latch 10 has outwardly inclined finger pieces 17 which, preferably, are struck from the side arms 12.

One link of the chain which is to be connected is placed in the openings 15 of the latch 10, another link of the chain being receivedin the enlargement 8 of the L-shaped slot 4 in the body 1, it being possible to insert the link into the enlargement 8 by way of the branches 5 and 6 of the slot 4. When the connector is disposed in the closed position of F ig. 1, the link which is in the openlngs 15 of the latch 10 is carried into the notch 3 of the body 1. The bend 11 of the latch forms a closure for the transverse b ranch 5 of the slot 4, and, consequently, the link which is in the enlargement 8 cannot be detached therefrom accidentally. The free end of the latch 10 rests on the seat 7, hereinbefore alluded to. Because the resilient tongues 16 of the latch are inwardly inclined, they will have a strong hold on the body 1, and this hold is enhanced because, when the connector is closed, as shown in Fig. 1, the tongues 16 project beyond the base of the recess 2. It is to be observed, however, that the tongues 16 lie within a line A-B tangent to the projections 20. Consequently, the ends of the tongues are shielded and protected, and are not likely to be struck accidentally, causing the latch 10 to move to a partially opened position on the pivot element 14. The finger pieces 17 form a convenient means whereby the latch 10 may be grasped, when it is to be swung to an open position.

We claim ln a chain connector, a body provided in one edge with a notch and having an angular slot including transverse and longitudinal branches, the transverse branch opening through said edge of the body, the opposite edge of the body having a recess defining projections; a U-shaped latch comprising arms and a bend, the arms having openings registering with the notch, the arms of the latch being provided with resilient, inwardly inclined tongues, engaging the body, and projecting beyond the base of the recess, the ends of the tongues lying within a line tangent to t-he projections, the bend of the latch resting on the body at the inner end of the transverse branch, and constituting a closure for the transverse branch, the longitudinal branch projecting beyond the bend of the latch, the body being received between the arms; and a pivot element uniting the body and the arms.

n testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, witness our hands.

THOMAS W. OLSON. ANTON IVERSON. 

